Penitentiary
A penitentiary (also: penitentiary canon ) is a member of a cathedral or collegiate chapter to which special powers are given in questions of the sacrament of penance . He is empowered to grant absolution in all such serious cases , which is otherwise reserved for the bishop .
Canon 508 of the CIC states:
“The penitential canon of both cathedral and collegiate churches has, by virtue of his office, the proper authority, which he cannot delegate to others, to absolve in the sacramental area of flexural punishments that are not reserved for criminal offenses and are not reserved for the Apostolic See; within the diocese this authority also applies to non-dioceses and to diocesans outside the diocese. "
The next higher level is the Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Codex of Canon Law, Can. 508 . Website intratex.com. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
Web links
- Information from the diocese of Mainz on the office of penitential canon in the Mainz cathedral chapter